Cyanoacrylate (Superglue) Fuming

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Ridge detail on nonporous surfaces, either latent or visible, can be exposed to cyanoacrylate (Superglue) fumes. These fumes will adhere to the moisture deposited by friction ridge skin and turn the ridges white. The reaction also stabilizes the ridge detail to better preserve for possible future enhancement (through use of fingerprint powder at the scene or by use of dye stains back at the Lab) and collection at a scene or in the Laboratory.

The images below show a surface bearing latent prints as viewed with ambient light (left), with side lighting (center) and with ambient light after cyanoacrylate fuming (right).